Fibe-fighting apparatus



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A NErs ya/w i J. C. WITT. FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS- APPLICATION FILEDMAR. n, 1.9m.

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A ITO/M578 Patented'Aug. 31, 1920.

J. C. WITT.

FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION mm MAR. I1, 1918.

1 ,35 1 ,085 Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

nwmron JamesC. 7706b Maw 6 A TTORNE Y8 WITNESSES .l. C. WITT.

FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. ll. I9l8.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

9 SHEEIS-SHEET 4.

A TTORNE Y8 J. C. WITT.

FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION mm mm. n, 1918.

1 ,35 1 ,085, Patented-Aug. 31, 1920.

9 SHEEN-SHEET 5.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS J. cl wm.

FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1|. 19w.

1,35 1 ,085, Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

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A TTORIIEI'S J. C. WITT.

FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1|, I918- J. c. wm. FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS.APPLICATION FILED MAB.II.19I8.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

INVENTOI? (1. W066. 8V

ATTORNEYS JAMES C. WIT'I, OF CAIRO, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-FIGHTING- APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

Application filed March 11, 1918. Serial No. 221,744.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES (3. WIT'I', a citizen oi the United States,and a resident of Cairo, in the county of Alexander and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-FightingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fire fighting apparatus,relating more particularly to fire shields, and it consists in theconstructions, combinations and arrangements herein described andclaimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable and collapsible fireshield to be used adjunctively with the usual fire fighting a paratus,the said shield being controlle in its erection and collapse, by thetelescopic action of the truck upon which it is mounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting truck havinga second truck telescopically mounted thereupon, the second truck beingarranged to erect a plurality of fire shields by the extension of saidtruck with respect to the supporting truck.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting truck and anextensible truck with wheels resting on the ground when said truck isextended, and lifted from the ground when said truck is telescoped onthe supportin truck.

Another ob ect of the invention is to provide a supporting and atelescopic truck, the two having a spline and groove connection witheach other, at an angle, to elevate the telescopic truck as it istelescoped upon said supporting truck.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a novel arrangement inthe counterweights of certain of the shield standards, which coact withsuitably formed portions of the supporting truck to tilt said standardsand cause the shield carried thereby, to collapse, upon the operation ofmoving the telescopic truck into the supporting truck.

Another object of the invention is to provide quadrants on the shieldstandards of the supporting truck, arranged to be engaged by racks onthe extensible truck, upon the telescoping of said trucks upon eac otherand thus turn the quadrants and collapse the shields.

Another object of the invention is to provide the quadrants and racksfor the purpose described, the coacting racks and quadrants beinglocated in different planes, by which arrangement, the proper quadrantsare operated.

Another object of the invention is to provide fire curtains at the sidesof the supporting truck, with engine driven gear connections controlledby the operator, for raising and lowering said curtains to protect theworking parts beneath said truck, upon reachin the scene of a fire.

Anot or object of the invention is to provide a fire curtain on theextensible truck, gears arranged to intermesh upon the com-, pleteextension of said frame, being provided and arranged for mechanicaloperation to raise and lower said curtain at the will of the operator.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fi ure 1 is a side elevation of the device, showing it telescoped andthe shields collapsed.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the truck extended and the shieldserected.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the parts on the other side.

Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of the parts at the left of Fig. 2,showing the extensible truck member and the coacting parts.

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation showing the arrangement of theweight-arm illustrated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views illustrating the manner in whichtheshield carried by the extensible member, is collapsed by thecounter-weights upon telescoping the exten sible frame member.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 8-8 ofFig. 18.

Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views showing how the shields on therelatively stationary truck member are collapsed by the telescopicaction of the extensible truck member.

Fig. 11 is a detail view showing one of the adjustable bearings.

Figs. 12 and 13 are cross sections on the lines 12-12, and 13-13,respectively of Fig. 8.

Fig. 14 is a detail plan view illustrating the arrangement of thequadrants illustrated in Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a cross section on the line 15- 15 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 16 is a detail side elevation of the relatively stationary truckmember illustrated in Fig. 2, parts being omitted.

Fig. 17 is a horizontal section on the line 17-17 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 19 is a detail gear connections for curtains.

Fi 20 and 21 are detail views illustrating t e gear connections for thecurtain on the extensible truck member, and

Fig. 22 is a cross section taken substantially on the line 2222 of Fig.20.

Thisdevice is a portable fire shield which is adapted to be used inconnection with the usual fire fi hting apparatus. The device carriesfire s ields which are normall colapsed when the extensible truck mem eris telescoped in the main truck member, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Thefire shields are erected simultaneousl with the extension of theextensible mem r, upon reaching the scene of a fire, the erectibleshields carried by the device, formin screens behind which the firemenstand an direct-the water upon the fire.

The main truck member 1 which is termed relatively fixed, for purposesof distinction between the extensible truck member 2 in portions of thedescription to follow, is mounted upon the front and rear wheels 3 and4. The wheels 3 and 4 rotate upon the ends of axles 5 and 6 which aresupported from the frame 7 of the truck member 1, by the brackets 8 and9.

An engine 10 is supported on the truck frame 7 and beneath the floor 11of the truck 1, in any suitable manner. The engine 10 is arranged todrive the rear wheels 4 in any suitable manner. The essence of theinvention, however, lies in the manner'of extending and telescoping theextensible truck member 2, and erecting and collapsing th -v fireshields, and therefore, in the interest of simplicity, the drivingconnections for the said rear wheels 4 from the engine 10, are omitted.

The front and rear wheels 3 and 4 are also capable of being steered bythe steering wheels 12 and 13, shown more clearly in Fig. 3. Thesesteering wheels have the proper connections with the axles of therespective wheels, so that both sets of wheels may be operated inturning a corner, in the manner well known in fire fighting apparatus.

The engine 10 is adapted to drive a rack gear 14 journaled upon the rearend of the truck 1. The rack ear 14 may be rotated in either direction ythe. employment of the gear and chain mechanism illustrated in Fig. 16.The rack gear 14 is normally idle, that is to say, it is not operateduntil the plan view showing the operating the various fire fi htingdevice reaches the scene of a fire. he gear 14 engages a rack 15 securedbeneath the extensible truck member 2, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.

The truck member 2 is extended from the telescoped position indicated inFig. 1 to the extended position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, by movin alever 16 pivoted on the front of the true 1, rearwardly. The lever hasan extension 18 beyond the pivotal point 17 to which a shifting rod 19is connected. The other end of the shifting rod 19 is connected to ashifting post 20. A gear shaft 21 is journaled .in the shifting post 20in any suitable manner, the arrangement of the gear devices forextending the.

truck member 2, which will presently be ex lained, bein best shown inFig. 16.

he gear shaf t 21 has a sprocket 22 on the end, to which a chain 23 isapplied. The chain 23 is also ap lied to a sprocket 24 on acounter-shaft 25 diiven from the engine 10 by any suitable connection.The gear shaft 1 may or may not be constantly driven, it being obviousthat a clutch mechanism may be arranged in the counter-shaft 25 so thatthe gear shaft 21 may be rotated or stopped, at will.

A gear 26 is also mounted upon the gear shaft 21. The car 26 may bemoved mto enga ement with an extending gear 27 10- cats at one side ofthe gear 26, or with a telescopring gear 28 at the other side of saidgear. he post 20 is shiftably or slidably mounted on the truck frame 7beneath the floor 11 so that thegear 26 may be shifted as described,upon operating the lever 16.

The shifting post 20 has a base 29 provided with slots 30 through whichbolts 31 pass. The base 29 is slidable upon these bolts which move inthe slots 30 when the post 20 is acted upon. The gear shaft 21 normallyrotates in a clockwise direction and when moved toward the extendinggear 27 which is mounted upon a shaft 32, the gear 26 engages theextending gear 27 and rotates it in a contra-clockwise direction. 7 Thecontra-clockwise rotation of the gear 27 is transmitted through asprocket 33 on the shaft 32, and a chain 34 applied to said sprocket, toa sprocket 35 on a counter-shaft 36 located beneath the frame 7 near therear wheel 4. The contra-clockwise rotation of the shaft 36 istransmitted to a sprocket 37 on the rack gear shaft 38 upon which therack gear 14 is mounted, through the sprocket chain 39. The rack gearshaft 38 as well as the rack ear 14, now rotates in a contra-clockwisedirection with the result that the truck member 2 is extended from theposition shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 2.

The reverse movement of the parts just described is obtained by shiftingthe car 26 from engagement with the exten ing gear 27, to thetelescoping gear 28. The gear 28 is mounted upon a shaft 40 suitablysupported beneath the frame 7. A sprocket 41 is mounted upon the shaft40, and a chain 42 is applied at one side to the sprocket 41 and at theother side to a sprocket 43 on the counter-shaft 36. The chain 42 iscrossed as indicated in Fi 16, so that the motion of the counter-she 36is properly reversed to telescope the truck member 2 when the shiftinggear 26 is moved into engagement with the gear 28, as just explained.

When the gear 26 is thus shifted, which of course, is done by pullingthe lever 16 on the front of the truck 1 in a forward direction, theclockwise rotation of the shifting gear shaft 21 is transmitted in acontraclockwise direction to the telescoping gear shaft 40, whereu onthe counter-shaft 36 is rotated in a cloc ise direction, due to thecrossed chain 42. The clockwise rotation of the shaft 36 causes theclockwise rotation of the rack gear shaft 38 so that the rack gear 14acts upon the rack 15 to telescope the truck member 2 in the main truck1.

The extensible truck member 2 has a pair of wheels 44 on the rear end,which engage the ground when the truck member is extended, and areraised from the ground when the truck member is telescoped in the maintruck 1. The function of raising the wheels 44 from the ground when thetruck member 2 is telescoped, is obtained by the engagement of a pair ofsplines 45 disposed at a slight angle on the truck member 2, withspllned grooves 46 formed in the sides of a slot 47 in portions of thetruck frame 7. The angular disposition of the s lines 45 with respect tothe horizontal truck rame 7, is best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. Thetruck member 2 is supported by the angled splines 45 in the grooves 46,and when the truck member 2 is either extended or telescoped, thesplines 45 ride in these rooves and lower or elevate the truck mem eraccordingl Therefore, as before stated, when the true member 2 istelescoped as shown in Fig. 1, the wheels 44 are clear of the ground,while when the truck member 2 is extended, the wheels 44 en age theground and support the rear en member.

A plurality of fire shields 48, 49, and 50 are erected almostsimultaneously with the extension of the-truck member 2. That is to say,the erection of the fire shields begins as soon as the extension of thetruck member 2 be ins. The fire shield 48 is carried by stan ards 51,52, and 53, on the extensible truck member 2. The fire shields 49 and 50are carried by standards 54 and 55, respectively, on the main truckmember 1.

Each of the standards of the extensible shield 48, has a counter-weight56, 57 and 58, respectively. The respective counterof said truck'weights are mounted upon outwardly bent portions of the standards andsecured in place thereon by set screws 59. The counterweights may beadjusted either radially or laterally, as may be found necessary toobtain the proper action of the weights and the proper engagement withstops arranged to limit the movements of the standards by contacting thecounter-weights.

The counter-weight 56 engages a stop 60 on the extremity of the truckmember 2 in the position shown in Fig. 4, and the counter-weight 57engages a stop 61 on a slot board 62, at the same time. Thecounterweight 58 is cut away at 63 to form a shoulder for en agin theend of the floor 11 of the truck rame l.

The slot board 62 which is substantially an inte 2.] part of theextensible truck member 2, as a slot 64 in which the bent end of thestandard 53 rides. The bent end of the middle standard 52 is 'ournaledin a solid part of the slot boar 62. ,The extremity of the bent portionof thestandard 53 rides in a complemental slot 65 ina relatively fixedslot board 66, fixed upon the main truck frame 7 A collar 67 is clampedupon said extreme end of the standard 53, as shown in Fi 5.

The bent end of the standard 53 occupies the right and left extremitiesof the slots in the slot boards 66 and 62, respectively, when the partsare telescoped, as in Fig. 1. Upon extending the extensible truck member2, the counter-weight 58 remains stationarily in the position indicatedin Fig. 1, while the counter-weights 56 and 57 being positivelyconnected to the truck member 2, begin to act upon the standards 51 and52 to elevate or erect the fire shield 48. The counter-weights 56 and 57act in succession, and to this end, a weight-arm 68 with a beveled end69 is rovided, over which the weights 56 and 57 slide in succession andassume the substantially vertical position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4of the drawings.

The weight 56 is controlled to collapse and erect the standard 51,solely by the weight-arm 68. The weight 57 is also controlled tocollapse and erect the standard 52 by the weight-arm 68, but is adaptedto engage a weight board 70 with a beveled a proach 71, fixed upon thefloor 11. T e weight board 70 is so arranged that the wei ht 57 mayslide thereupon. When the true member 2 is extended as just explained,the weight 57 begins to slide off of the weight board 70 almost as soonas the weight 56 slides off of the beveled end 69 of the weight-arm 68.Thus it will be understood, that the weight 56 acts first to erect thestandard 51, and the weight 57 acts next to erect the standard 52.

The third weight 58 also slides upon the weight board 70, but is adaptedto act last of all so that not until the standards 51 and 52 are nearlyerect, does the weight 58 act to erect the standard 53 and draw the fireshield 48 taut.

It has been stated that the Weight 58 remains stationary at thebeginning of the extension of the truck member 2. This is accomplishedby the movement of the slot of the relatively fixed slot board 66, overthe inner portion of the bent member of the standard 53. The slot 65 isof such a length that the right extremity of said slot will engage thebent portion of the standard 53 at just the right time to begin movingthe 'weight 58 when the functions of the weights 56 and 57 are aboutcompleted. The right extremity of the slot 65 aving e age the bent endof the standard 53, t e weight 58 is slid or moved upon the weight boardfrom the position indicated in 1 to the position indicated in Fig. 4. Asthe weight 58'moves down the beveled approach 71, it will begin to turnso that at the completion of the turning movement of the weight 58, theshoulder 63 will engage the end of the floor 11. The turning movement ofthe weight 58 is also partly assisted by the erection of the standard 52which exerts some tension upon the fire shield 48 and accordinglyassists in pulling the standard 53 to the erect position.

The fire shields 49 and 50 are operated by quadrant and rack devices-asdistinguished from the fire shield 48 which is operated by thecounter-weights just described. It should be understood that theadjacent portions of the various fire screens overlap somewhat asindicated more par ticularly in Figs. 8 and 18 of the drawings, so thatthere may be no breach in the screen. Reference is now directed to Fig.8. The standards 54 carrying the fire shield 49, are bent outwardly toform axles 72 which are journaled in adjustable bearings 73. Quadrants74 and 75 are fixed upon the respective axles 72 of the standards 54,and are disposed in the same angular positions as indicated in Fig. 8.

An upper rack bar 76 carries a pair of racks 74 and 75 The rack 74cofiperates with a quadrant 74, and the rack 75 coiipcrates with thequadrant 75. The foremost rack 75 is made to avoid the rear quadrant 74,by properly lowering the bearing members of the rearmost quadrant 74.The quadrant 74 therefore occupies a slightly lower plane than thequadrant 75, the obvious purpose bein the simultaneous operation of thequad r racks 74 and 75. When the truck member 2 is telescoped, the racks74* and 7 5 will have moved into engagement with their respectivequadrants ants 74 and 75 by the 4 and 75 and rotated them in a clockwisedirection as indicated by the dotted "arrows in Fig. 8, and have movedthe standards 54 in a similar direction to collapse the fire shield 49.The engagement of the respective racks with their quadrants, also formsa key as it were, for holding the standards 54 in the collapsedposition.

The standards 55 of the fire screen 50 have outwardly bent portionsforming axles 77 which are 1ournaled in adjustable bear ings 78. Theaxles 77 have quadrants 79 and 80 which are fixed upon the axles in thesame angular positions as indicated in Fig. 8. Racks 79" and 80 mountedupon the truck member 2, are adapted to enga e and coact with therespective uadrants 79 and 80. When the truck mem er 2 is telescoped,the racks 79 and 80 will have moved into en agement with the quadrants79 and 80 an rotated them in a contraclockwise direction as indicated bythe dotted arrows in Fig. 8, to have moved the standards 55 in a similardirection and collapsed the fire screen 50 upon the fire screen 49. Thedistances between .the res ective racks and qluadrants just described issubstantially t e same so that the co a se of the fire screens 49 and 50is accomp ished almost at once.

The foremost rack 80' avoids the madrent 79 by the previous elevation othe axle 77 in the ad1ustable bearings 78. The foremost rack 80 is alsoillustrated as being a little lower than the rack 79. The same is trueof the racks 7 5 and 74 on the upper rack bar 76. It is, howeverimmaterial whether one or the other of the racks is made lower orcertain ones of the quadrants are adjusted higher to avoid the foremostracks, the proper positioning of the respective racks and quadrantsbeing readily done by either method.

It will be observed in Fig. 18 that the quadrants 79 and 80 and thecoacting racks 7 9 and 80 are situated in one longitudinal plane, whilethe quadrants 74 and 75 and the coacting racks 74 and 75 are situated inanother longitudinal plane. It will thus be understood that the sets ofracks and quadrants for operating the separate fire shields 49 and 50,work independently of each other and do not interfere in theiroperations. Each of the pairs of axles 72 and 77 is provided with acounter-weight 81 and 82, respectively. The middle set of counterweights81 and 82 in Fig. 8, is but half the size of the end counter-weights.These counter-weights may thus pass each other as indicated in Fig. 18.i

The upper rack bar 76 is movable in a groove 83 of a guide frame 84which includes the supports 85 and the truss members 86.

ceive a spline 88 fixed upon the rack bar 76.

. The guide groove 83 is rabbeted at 87 to reframe The spline 88 movesin the rabbet 87 and prevents the displacement of the upper rack bar 7 6from the guide groove 83.

The machinery beneath the extensible truck member 2 as well as beneaththe main truck member 1, is'protected by an arrangement of curtainswhich are adapted to be lowered after the truck member 2 is extended.Side curtains 89 and 90 are rolled upon shafts 91 sup orted in bearings92 on the truck frame 7 o the main truck 1. Each shaft 91 has a bevelgear 93 at the front end, with which, similar bevel gears 94 on a shaft95 mesh. One of the curtain shafts 91 is provided with a second bevelpinion 96, this pinion being located on the rear end as shown in Fig.19.

The bevel pinion 96 meshes with a bevel pinion 97 on a counter-shaft 98mounted on bearings 99 on the rear end of the truck The counter-shaft 98has a sprocket 100 to which a chain 101 is applied. The chain 101 passesover a larger sprocket 102 on the rack gear shaft 38.

The counter-shaft 98 is rotated at the same time that the truck member 2is being extended through the operation of the rack gear 14. Thus, whenthe shifting gear 26 is moved into engagement with the extending gear 27and the rack gear shaft 38 is rotated in a contra-clockwise direction toextend the truck member 2, the shaft 91 of the side curtains 89 and 90,are also rotated to lower the side curtains.

The extensible truck member 2 has a single curtain 103 which is woundupon a shaft 104 supported in bearings 105 beneath the extensible truck.The curtain 103 is, however, adapted not to be unwound until theextensible truck member 2 is completely extended. The shaft 104 carriesa bevel pinion 106 which is arranged to inter-mesh with a bevel pinion107 on a stud shaft 108 mounted beneath the truck frame 7. The studshaft 108 is adapted to be driven from a shifting stud shaft 109.

The shifting stud shaft 109 is mounted on a shifting post 110 similar inall respects to the shifting post 20 of the shifting gear 26 illustratedin Fig. 16. The shaft 109 has a sprocket 111 to which a sprocket chain112 is applied. The other end of the chain 112 is applied to a sprocket113 on the stud shaft 108. The shifting stud shaft 109 is adapted to beshifted by a shifting rod 114 which is pivoted to the extension of ashifting lever 115 mounted on the front end of the truck 1 and beneaththe hood 116.

The shifting post 110 may be shifted by operating the hand lever 115, tomove a gear 117 on-the shifting stud shaft 109, into engagement witheither the telescoping gear 28 or the shifting gear 26, according to themotion it is desired to impart to the curtain shaft 104. By reference toFigs. 20 and 1 .11,

it will be understood that the curtain shaft 104 cannot be operateduntil the truck member 2 is completely extended. The curtain shaft 104is carried by the truck member 2, and when said truck member iscompletely bevel gears 106 and 107 come mto engagement, whereupon theymaybe rotated to operate the shaft 104 to unwind or wind the curtain103.

The curtains 90 and 103 in conjunction with the fire shields 48, 49 and50, form a complete wall or screen from behind which the firemen maycombat the fire. To this end, the upper fire shields may be providedwith portholes 118 through which streams of water may be directed uponthe fire. It is also desirable to protect the set of wheels 44 of theextensible truck member 2.

A curtain 119 which normall assumes the position indicated in Fig. 1 wen the truck member 2 is telescoped, is adapted to be dropped completelyaround the rear wheels 44 when the truck member 2 is extended.

The curtain 119 is mounted upon ame members 120 at the top and bottom.The top frame member 120 has an arm 121 with a bent end 122 which isadapted to ride into a slot 123 in the weight-arm 68. It will beunderstood that the bent end 122 rides on the incline of the slot 123,to the base of the slot when the truck member 2 is telescoped.Similarly, when the truck member 2 is extended, the bent end 122 willride out of the slot 123 and permit the curtain 119 to lower to theposition indicated in Fig. 2.

Ordinarily the friction between the rack gear 14 and the rack 15, andthe other contacting parts between the extensible truck member 2 and themain truck member 1, would be sufiicient to prevent the extension of thetruck member 2 when the device is propelled over a roadway. To overcomeany accidental extension of the truck member 2, a latch 124 is providedon the front end of the truck 1, as shown in Fig. 1. The latch 124'isspring pressed in one direction, and has a treadle portion on which theoperator may step to release the latch from a suitably arranged keeperon the extensible truck 2.

The operation of the device is as follows. The extensible truck member 2is telescoped in the main truck member 1 as shown in Fig. 1, when theportable fire shield is in readiness to be called out. The fire shields48, 49, and 50, which are preferably made of asbestos fabric, arecollapsed upon the main truck, and the curtain for the rear wheels 44 iselevated. The curtain 103 of the extensible truck member 2 is rolledupon the shaft 104 and telescoped beneath the main truck 1 with theextensible truck member 2 by which it is carried. The side curtains 89and 90 are also rolled up as shown in Fig. 1.

The counter-weights 56, 57, and 58, which act to erect the standards 51,52, and 53 which support the fire shield 48, rest upon the weight-arm 68and the weight board coacting racks 74*, and 80, of t e upper rack bar76 and the extensible truc member 2, respectively, being thus held andlocked in the position wherein the shields 49 and 50 are collapsed.

he splines 4 of the extensible truck the main truck 1. e inclination ofthe splines and the grooves attains the elevation of the wheels 44 ofthe extensible truck mem- 2 from the ground, when the member 2 istelescoped. When the member 2 is ex tended, the splines surfaces of threst upon the ground and support said member, as illustrated in Figs. 2and 3.

The truck member 2 is ing the lever the shifting gear 26 engages theextending gear 27 and imparts a contra-clockwise motion thereto. Theshifting gear 26 rotates in a clockwise direction and is driven from thes rocket 24 on the engine counter-shaft 25.

nection 39, and th fixed to the extensible truck member 2 and which isin engagement with the rack gear 14, is operated to extend said truckmember from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2.

hen this action takes place, ards of the fire shield 48 move tosuccession. Each standard has a portion or an axle which has a pivotalportion 0 the extensible the action of gravity, assumes the ositionillustrated in Fig. 4 when the stan ard 51 carried thereby, assumes thevertical position.

The weight 57 follows. The bent ends or axles of the weights 56 and 57have positive solid portions of the truck The bent end of standard 52 isjournaled in the slot board The positive mountings ust referred to Theweight 58 follows last of a k 1, so that the standard 52 is moved toerection almost as soon as the standard 51 assumes its verticalposition.

It should be understood that the Wei ht 56 coacts with the weight-arm68. The weight 57 simply slides ofl of the floor 11 and does not en gethe weight-arm. To facilitate the slidlng off of the weight 57, theadjacent edge of the floor 11 me; be beveled.

ll. The bent end or axle of the standard 53 carried by the weight 58,has no positive connection with either the main truck member or theextensible truck member. This axle passes through the slots 64 and 65 ofthe slot board 2 carried by the extensible truck 2, and the slot board66 carried by the main truck member 1, respectively.

As soon as the truck 2 commences its extension, the slot board 62, ofcourse, moves with respect to the axle of the standard 53, the slot 64of the slot board 62, simply moving over the adjacent portion of saidaxle. his continues, until the ri ht end of the slot 64 engages theaxle. 'l he axle together with the weight 58, is then carriedrearwardly, the outer part of said axle then sliding in the slot 65 ofthe relatively fixed slot board 66. Th end of the axle of the standard53 will ultimately engage ft end of the slot 65.

The weight 58 in the meantime passes through various stages positely tothose depicted in Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, and finally assumes theerected, the truck member 2 is yet in the telesooped position, thevarious racks carried b the upper rack bar 76 and the truck mem er 2,are in engagement with their coasting The he bar 76 will then e inengagement with the quadrants 74 and 75, as may be best understood fromFig. 9. Similarly. the racks 79 and 80 will be in engagement with thequadrants 79 and 80, as ma be best understood from Fig. 10. Now, 0viousl upon the extension of the truck mem er 2, the various racks willbe moved toward the left or rearwardly, and the quadrants of the shields49 and 50 will be rotated in contra-clockwise and clockwise directionsrespectively, until they assume the vertical or erect positionsindicated in Figs. 8 and 2.

During the operation of extending the truck member 2, the side curtains89 and 90 are unrolled from their shafts 91, until the weighted edges ofthe curtains reach the ground. The speed ratios of the shafts 91 and therack gear shaft 38, are so roportioned that the side curtains 89 an 90will be full unwound when the truck 1116111- ber 2 is fu ly extended.The shafts 91 of the curtains are rotated from the rack gear shaft 38through the chain and sprocket connections 101, 100, which drive thecounter-shaft 98 from which the curtain shafts 91 are driven.

The curtain 103 of the extensible truck member 2, is not unwound,however, until the truck member 2 is fully extended and the pinion 106on the shaft 104 of said ourtain 103, engages the bevel pinion 107 onthe stud shaft 108. The stud shaft 108 is rotated by the gearconnections from the shifting stud shaft 109 shown in Fig. 16. The studshaft 109 is mounted u on the shifting post 110 which is operate by thelever 115 beneath the hood 116 at the front of the truck 1. The shaft109 is shifted either toward the right or toward the left, and the gear117 carried thereby, will engage either the telescoping gear 28 or theshifting gear 26, when the counter-shaft 108 will be properly rotated tounwind the curtain 103 from the shaft 104.

The bent end 122 of the arm 121 of the curtain 119, also moves out ofthe slot 123 in the weight-arm 68 at the propertime, to permit thecurtain 119 to drop in osition about the wheels 44. It will be un'erstood that the weights 56, 57 and 58' are limited in their movementsto erect the various standards, by enga ing the stops located adjacentthereto. he various weights are susceptible to adjustment, as previouslyexplained. V

The use of the portable fire screen is not limited to any particularfield. It may be used to equal advantage in cities as well as ruralcommunities. When the fire shield is used in rural communities, it isdrawn up between the house which is afire and the adjoining house whichis not. The houses in rural communities are usually detached, and thespreading of a fire from a burning house to another by the leapingacross of the flames and scattering of sparks, is not an infrequentoccurrence. In actual practice, the portable fire screen will be in theneighdrawing borhood of seventy-five feet lon when extended, and in theneighborhood 0 thirty (30) feet high when erected. The ereetible fireshields and the side curtains are made of asbestos fabric. The parts ofthe truck itself are all made of metal, so that there is nothing aboutthe device which may burn. It may thus be easily understood that by thedevice between two buildin under t e conditions described, the fireWlll. not only be prevented from spreading, but may be combatted bydirecting streams of water upon the flames through the portholes 118.

The fire shield protects the firemen who stand behind the shield anddirect the streams of water. The device may, of course, not be drawn upbetween houses in the case where it is used in cities, because houses incities are usually built in rows. But the device may be drawn up in thestreet in front of the house and the firemen may direct their work frombehind the shield, similarly as in the former instance. It is alsoconceivable that the various standards of the fire shields may bereinforced and braced in such a manner that the various fire shieldswill support ladders when placed thereagainst. If this can be done, thefiremen may climb up to near the top of the fire shields and thus directthe streams of water into the upper stories of the building, to betteradvantage than when" they stand upon the ground and use the porthole 18exclusively.

While the construction and arrangement of the device as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings is that of a generally preferred form,obviously modifications and changes may be made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the see e of the claims claim:

1.- A fire fighting device, consisting of a collapsed shield section, atelescopic truck including a fixed truck member, and an extensible truckmember carrying said shield section, and rockable standards pivoted onthe extensible truck member and adapted to engage the fixed truck memberupon telescoping the truck, to rock said standards.

2. A fire fighting device, consisting of a telescopic truck including afixed member, and an extensible member, a shield section carried by andcollapsed upon the extensible member when the truck members aretelescoped, shield supporting standards pivoted on the extensible memberand swung over thereupon when said extensible member is telescoped, andmeans arranged on said standards and engaging the fixed member, adaptedto erect the standards and shield section automatically upon relativeextension of the extensible member to said fixed member.

3. A fire fighting device, consisting of a relatively fixed truck memberand an extensible truck member, shield standards pivoted upon theextensible member, a flexible shield section attached to said standards,and a counter-poising means on the standards, engageable with therelatively fixed truck member, for rocking the pivoted standards.

4. A fire fighting device, consisting of a relatively fixed truck memberand an ex tensible truck member erectible shield standards pivoted uponthe extensible memher, and counter-weights carried by said standardsslidably engaging the relatively fixed truck member to lower saidstandards upon telescoping the truck members.

5. A fire fighting device, consisting of a relatively fixed truck memberand an extensible truck member, shield standards lowered when the truckmembers are telescoped, and counter-weights on the standards engagingthe relatively fixed truck member, said counter-weights erecting thestandards on disengagement of the weights with said truck member, uponextending the extensible member.

6. A fire fighting device, consisting of an extensible truck member anda relatively fixed truck member having an inclined portion, shieldsupporting standards pivotally mounted upon the extensible truck member,and counter-weights on the standards, slidable upon the inclined portionwhen the truck members are telescoped.

7. A fire fighting device, consisting of an extensible truck member anda relativel fixed truck member, shield bearing stand ards carried by theextensible truck member, counter-Weights carried by said standardsengaging the relatively fixed truck member when telescoped, saidcounter-weights sliding ofl" upon extension of the extensible truckmember and erecting the shield bearing standards, and stops on theextensible member limiting the movement of the countor-weights.

8. A fire fighting device, including an extensible truck member, ashield bearing standard ivotall mounted for erection on said mem er, anda counter-weight adjustable on a portion of said standard for varyingthe position of said weight and changing the per endicularity of saidstandard.

9. A fire ghtin device, including an extensible truck mem er, aplurality of shield bearing standards pivoted on said member,counter-weights ada ted to erect said standards, a relatively xed truckmember, a weight board with an inclined portion on said truck member,engageable by a pair of said counter-weights, and a separate weightarmhaving an inclined portion engageable by another of saidcounter-weights.

10. A fire fighting device, including an extended truck member and arelatively fixed truck member, a plurality of shield carrying standardspivoted on the extended truck member, a flexible shield stretchedbetween said standards, counter-weights carried by said standardsholding them erect and the shield taut, and conjunctively operatingmeans for telescoping the extended truck member and turning saidstandards down one after the other, to collapse the shield.

11. A fire fighting device, including an extended truck member and arelatively fixed truck member, a plurality of shield carrying standardspivoted on the extended truck member, a flexible shield stretchedbetween said standards, counter-weights carried by said standardsholding them erect and the shield taut, mechanically operated means fortelescoping the extended truck member, and means acting conjunctively tofold the standards down in succession, to collapse the shield, as saidtruck member is telescoped.

12. A fire fighting device, including an extended truck member and arelatively fixed truck member, said member having a partly projectingbed, a shield supportlng standard carried by the extended truck member,and a counter-weight carried by said standard, said counter-weighthaving a portion cut away to receive the partial projection.

13. A fire fighting device, including a relatively fixed truck memberand an extensible truck member telescoped thereupon, shield supportingstandards pivoted on the extensible member, counter-weights on the saidstandards, engaging the relatively fixed member, a rack on theextensible member, and gear and driving connections with said rack forextending the extensible member, permitting the counter-weights to actand erect said standards.

14. A fire fighting device, including a relatively fixed truck memberand an extensible truck member telescoped thereupon, shield 1 supportingstandards pivoted on the extensible member engaging the relatively fixedmember on the said standards, a rack on the extensible member, gear anddriving connections with said rack for extending the 115 extensiblemember, causing the erection of said standards through the action of thecounter-weights, and a reversing mechanism combined in the drivingconnections, operative to re-telescope the extended truck member.

15. In a fire fighting device, a relatively fixed truck member, anextensible truck member, a fire shield carried by the extensible member,including supporting standards 125 having portions engaging therelatively fixed member and holding said standards and shield collapsed,and means for extending the extensible truck member whereupon saidengaging portions disengage the rela- 180 tively fixed truck member andmove said standards to erection in succession.

16. In a fire fighting device, a relatively fixed truck member, anextensible truck member slidable upon the relatively fixed truck member,wheels carried by the extensible truck member for contacting the groundwhen said truck member is extended, and. inter-engaging means arranged uon the relatively fixed and extensible mem ers for elevating the wheelsfrom the ground as the extensible member is moved inwardly upon therelativel fixed member.

17. In a re fighting device, a relativel fixed truck member, anextensible trucfi member telescoped in the relatively fixed truckmember, and means inter-connecting said members arranged to lower theextensible truck member upon extension.

18. In a fire fighting device, a relatively fixed truck member having afloor with a slot and inclined grooves formed in the sides of the slot,an extensible truckmember telescoped on the relatively fixed truckmember and having splines engaging said grooves, wheels carried by theextensible member out of contact with the ground when the extensible mmber is telescoped on the relatively fixed member, and mechanicaloperating means for extending the extensible member, whereupon thesplines ride upon the inclined grooves and radually lower the Wheelsinto contact with the ground when the extensible member is fullyextended.

19. In a fire fighting device, a relatively fixed truck member, aweight-arm projecting from said truck member, an extensible truck membernormally telescoped in the relativel fixed truck member, a plurality ofshiel standards carried by the extensible member, and counter-weightscarried by said standards, one of said counter-weights engaging theWeight-arm when the extensie truck memoer is telescoped, to collapse thestandard carried by the weight.

20. In a fire fighting device, a relatively fixed truck member having afloor, a weight board secured to the floor and forming a track, anextensible truck member telescoped in said relatively fixed truckmember, and shield standard operating weights carried by the extensibletruck member and riding upon the track provided by the weight board.

21. In a fire fighting device, a relative] fixed truck member, anextensible truclZ member telescoped in the relatively fixed member, anda plurality of shield standard operating weights carried by theextensible member, certain of the weights moving with the extensiblemember upon extension, and one of said weights remaining stationaryuntil a predetermined time.

22. In a fire fighting device, a relatively fixed truck member, anextensible truck member telescoped in the relatively fixed truck member,a plurality of weights carried by the extensible member and movable uponextension of said member, one of said Weights remaining stationary untila predetermined time, and an engaging portion on the extensible memberarranged to contact the stationary weight at the end of. saidpredetermined time.

23. In a fire fighting device, a relatively fixed truck member, anextensible truck member adapted to be extended from the relatively fixedtruck member, a pluralit of weights carried by the extensible trucmember, certain of the weights moving with said member, and one of thewei hts rewith the relative y fixed maining stationar truck member, an aslot board mounted on the extensible member, said board having a slot,one extremity of the slot being adapted to engage a portion of thestationary weight after a pre-determined extension of the extensiblemember, to carry said Wei ht'therewith through the remamder of t emovement of the extensible member.

24. In a fire fighting device, a relatively fixed truck member and anextensible truc member, slot boards having slots, each being mountedupon one of said members, an erectible standard having a bent portionforming an axle disposed in the slots, and a weight mounted upon theaxle between the slot boards.

25. In a fire fightin device, a relatively fixed truck member aving aslot board with a slot, an extensible truck member having a slot boardspaced from the relatively fixed slot board and having a slot, and apair of Weights located between the slot oards when the extensiblemember is telescoped in the relatively fixed member, one of said weightsbein carried by the extensible member, and t e other weight beingadapted to be acted on by a portion of said extensible member.

26. In a fire fighting device, a relativel fixed truck member having aslot board with a slot, an extensible truck member telesco ed in therelatively fixed truck member an having a slot board with a slot, saidslot boards being spaced apart and forming walls, and a pair of weightsdisposed between the walls when the extensible member is telescoped, oneof the Weights having a positive connection with the extensible member,the other weight having a loose connection with both slot boards in theslot.

27. In a fire fighting device, a relatively fixed truck member, a slotboard with a slot, mounted on said truck member, an extensible truckmember telescoped 1n the relatively fixed truck member and having a slotboard with a slot mounted thereon, the slot boards being spaced apart toprovide a board with a slot, mounted u on the floor, an

extensible truck member to escoped in the relatively fixed truck memberand having a slot board with a slot, said slot boards being spaced apartto provide a weight channel, a weight board secured to the floor in thechannel, and a pair of weights controlled by, and arranged to be drawnover, the weight board upon the extension of the extensible member.

29. In a fire fighting device, a relativel fixed slot board and anextensible slot boar said boards having coinciding slots, :1. standardhaving a bent portion for-min an axle disposed in the coinciding slots,and a weight mounted upon the axle between the slot boards.

30. In a fire fighting device, a relatively fixed truck member having aweight board, a slot board with a slot, fixed on one side of the weightboard, an extensible truck member telescoped in the relatively fixedmember, havi a slot board with a slot, said slot board ing disposed onthe other side of the weight board and extending in an oppositedirection to the relatively fixed slot board, a weight resting upon theweight board between the slot boards, and an axial portion passingthrough the weight and the slots, the extreme end of the extensibleboard slot being engageable with the associated portion of the axle uponthe extension of the extensible truck member.

31. In a fire fighting device, a relatively fixed truck member having aslot board with a slot, an extensible truck member having a slot boardwith a slot, normally telescoped in the fixed truck member, a weightlocated between the slot boards, and a standard having a bent endforming an axle fixed in the weight and passing through the slots of theslot boards, said axle normally reclining in the extremities of saidslots,

32. In a fire fighting device, a relatively fixed truck member having aslot board with a slot, a weight, an axle passing through the weight atboth sides, one end of the axle normally reclining in one extremit ofthe relatively fixed slot board slot, an an extensible truck memberhaving a slot board with a slot, the other end of said axle reclining inthe extremity of said slot opposite to that of the relatively fixed slotboard slot.

33. In a fire fighting device, a relatively fixed and an extensibletruck member, a slot board on each truck member, each having a slot,said slots extending in opposite directions when the truck members aretelescoped, a weight located between the slot boards, and a supportingaxle for the weight extending at each side of the weight and located inengagement with the adjacent bases of the oppositely extending slotswhen the truck members are telescoped.

34. In a fire fighting device, a relatively fixed truck member having aslot board with a slot, a weight having an axle with por tionsprojecting on each side, one of the pro- 'ections reclining in oneextremity of said slot, and an extensible truck member having a slotboard with a slot, the other axle projection reclining in the extremityof said slot.

opposite to that of the relatively fixed slot board slot holding theother axle projection, and means for extending the extensible truckmember whereupon the 'slot board carried thereby rides over the axleprojection until the associated slot base engages the axle projectionand moves the weight upon continued motion of the extensible member.

35. In a fire fighting device, a relatively fixed slot board having aslot, a weight having an axle projectingat the sides of the weight, oneaxle projection normally resting in t e base of sai slot, and anextensible slot board having a slot, the other projection normallresting at the head of said s ot, said extensi 1e slot board beingmovable with respect to the weight until the base of the extensible slotboard slot enga es the axle projection, whereupon the weig t is movedand the other axle projection is advanced in the relatively fixed slotboard slot.

36. In a firefighting device,-a relatively fixed slot board having aslot, an extensible slot board havin a slot, a weight disposed betweenthe slot hoards and having an axle with projections at each side of theweight, one axle projection normally resting at the base of therelatively fixed slot board slot, the other axle projection normallyresting at the head of the extensible slot board slot, and a secondweight carried by the extensible slot board, adapted to moveindependently of the other weight, upon the extension of the extensibleslot board, said other weight being movable upon the engagement of thebase of the extensible slot board slot with the companion axleprojection.

37. In a fire fightin device, a relatively fixed truck mem er aving aslot board with a slot, an extensible truck member telescoped in therelatively fixed truck member, a weight slidable beside the slot board,an axle in the weight having projections on each side, one projectionbeing movable in said slot, and means carried by the extensible truckmember engaging the other axle projection after a pro-determined extentof movement of the extensible member, for moving the weightlongitudinally of said slot board.

38. In a fire fi hting device, a relatively fixed truck memfier having afloor, a slot board havin a slot, a weight movable beside the slot oardand having a cut-out portion, an axle in the weight with a projectionnormally resting in the base of said slot, an extensible truck member,and means carried by said truck member engageable with a portion of theweight for sliding the weight beside the slot board, said weig trevolving upon the engagement of the axle projection with the other endof said slot, whereupon I the cut-out ortion of said weight engages theed e of t e truck floor.

39. n a fire fighting device, a relativel fixed truck member, anextensible trucl i member normall telescoped in the relatively fixedtrucli member, standards pivoted upon the extensible member, a fireshield carried by said standards, and means for turning the standards toan erect position to stretch the shield upon the extension of theextensible member.

40. In a fire fi' hting device, a relativel 26 fixed truck mem ber, anextensible trucfi member telescoped in the relatively fixed truckmember, standards pivoted upon the extensible member,-a fire shieldcarried by i the standards, said standards and shield be- 80 ing in acollapsed position when the extensible truck member is telescoped in therelatively fixed truck member and means for raising the standards andstretching the shield upon the extension of the extensible 3B truckmember.

41. In a fire fighting device, a relativel fixed truck member, anextensible truc member, a air of fire shields carried by the relativelfixed truck member, and means 40 carried y the extensible memberarranged to act upon and raise the fire shield upon the extension of theextensible member.

42. In a fire fighting device, a relativel fixed truck member, anextensible truclz member normally telescoped in said relatively fixedtruck member, a plurality of fire shields mounted upon the relativelyfixed truck member and collapsed when the extensible member istelescoped, and means carried b the extensible member for raising saidre shields simultaneously with the extension of the extensible member.

43. In a fire fighting device, a relativel fixed truck member, anextensible true member normally telescoped in said relatively fixedtruck member, a plurality of fire shields having supports pivoted uponthe relatively fixed truck member, and means coacting with said supportsand carried by so the extensible member, to raise said supports and thefire shields upon the extension of the extensible member.

44. In a fire fighting device, a relativel fixed truck' member, anextensible true member normally telescoped in said relatively fixedtruck member, a plurality of fire shields carried by the relativelyfixed member, supports for said fire shields pivoted upon saidrelatively fixed truck member, and means carried by the extensiblemember engageable with portions of said supports for acting upon saidsupports to collapse and erect the fire shields during portions of themovements of the extensible member. 76

45. In a fire fi hting device, a relatively fixed truck memger, anextensible and retractible truck member, a plurality of fire shieldshaving pivoted supports with engageable ortlons carried by therelatively xed truc member, and means carried by the extensible memberfor engaging said engageable portions during portions of the extendingand retracting movements of said extensible member, to act upon the fireshields.

46. In a fire fi hting device, a relatively fixed truck mem er anextensible and retractible truck member, fire shields carried bystandards mounted upon the relatively fixed truck member, quadrantscarried by the standards, and racks carried by the extensible memberengageable with the quadrants upon the retractlon of said member, tocollapse the standards and fire shields. 96

47. In a fire fighting device, a relatively fixed truck member, anextenslble and telescopic truck member, fire shields carried bystandards pivoted upon the relatively fixed truck member, quadrantsmounted on the 100 standards, and racks carried by the extensible truckmember, engageable with the quadrants upon telescoping said extensiblemember, to revolve and lpck the standard to the collapsed position.

48. In a fire fighting device, a relativel fixed truck member, anextensible truc member normall telescoped in said relatively fixed trucmember, a plurality of standards having bent portions formin axlesjournaled upon the relatively fixed truck member, quadrants mounted uponthe axles, fire shields carried by the standards, and racks carried bythe extensible truck member engageable with the quadrants at the end ofthe telescoping movement of the extensible member to turn the axles intheir journals.

49. In a fire fighting device, a relatively fixed truck member, anextensible truck member normallly telescoped in said relatively fixedtruc member, standards journaled on the relatively fixed truck member,fire shields carried by the standards,'quadrants mounted upon the lowerportions of said standards, and racks carried by the extensible memberengageable with the quadrants when the extensible member is telescoped,certain of said racks coiiperating with certain of the quadrants, andacting 13'0

